Single-Stage Double-Buck Topologies with High Power Factor

This paper presents two topologies for single-stage single-phase double-buck type PFC converters, designed to operate at high power factor, near sinusoidal input currents and adjustable output voltage. Unlike the known buck type PFC topologies, in which the output voltage is always lower than the maximum input voltage, the proposed converters can operate at output voltages higher than the ac input peak voltage. A reduced number of switches on the main path of the current are another characteristic of the two proposed topologies. To shape the input line currents, a fast and robust controller based on a sliding mode approach is proposed. This active non-linear control strategy, applied to these converters allows high quality input currents. A Proportional Integral (PI) controller is adopted to regulate the output voltage of the converters. This external voltage controller modulates the amplitude of the sinusoidal input current references. The performances of the presented rectifiers are verified with experimental results.